Crystal Power, Mythology and History

Book excerpt: Both a historical survey and a reference work, this study traces the mythology and cultural importance of gems and minerals from Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt through the classical worlds of Greece and Rome to medieval Europe. Amulets and talismans and the powers attributed to them are cataloged for each civilization, with special attention paid to the spiritual and healing powers with which they were--and are today--thought to be imbued. A large and detailed appendix lists gems and crystals with their respective mineralogical, historical, astrological, and healing properties.